Yes, it is true. Read the headline once more if you feel the need to. For all of those out there who are actually literate, you should be well aware from the news lately that thiswaris not exactly going well for us. TheBritishhave been making fools out of us, winning most, if not all, of the battles so far. But something has just changed. Over the course of September and October,two monumental battleshave been fought atSaratoga, New York. "What is so monumental about said battles," you may ask. To put into terms all can understand: WE WON THEM. Those three words were among the few I had only dreamed of hearing together. We have finally won some battles. Not only did we win, but the Tories actuallySURRENDERED TO US! These two battles at Saratoga, fought eighteen days apart, were our first major victories, and now the rest world will no longer see us as the "little people" that they can push around. We have just shown the whole world that we can hold our own in battle. Lets take a look and recapwhat took place at Saratoga, to give all you readers out there some idea of how it went down.
This was the first of the two battles at Saratoga. It was fought back on September 19. As you can see, we actually had a plan for this battle. One advantage we had is that in this battle the British did not get an early start. They had very little knowledge our forces or their arrangement. Another reason for our victory was the gifted tactics ofColonel Daniel Morgan and GeneralsBenedict ArnoldandHoratio Gates. If it wasn't for their skill in battle, we might not have won atFreeman's Farm. Though, I feel that we would have had a cleaner victory if it wasn't for the fact that Arnold and Gates hated each other. I was told that Gates had never led troops into battle before, and that Arnold predicted the British attack precisely and wanted to send the troops in, while Gates' plan was to wait for the British. When the British began their advance, we were already in place behind our fortifications. In my opinion, if the British had more time to think about their plan, they could have succeeded. Luckily for us, Arnold realized how vulnerable the British were when moving, and asked Gates repeatedly if he could send his troops in. Reportedly Gates gave in around noon, and allowed Arnold to send his wing in. This is the force that metGeneral Burgoyneat Freeman's Farm, one mile north ofBemis Heights. The determination of our troops, not to mention the fact that Benedict Arnold was fighting in the front lines with his men, is definitely a contributing factor to our victory.
Bemis was the second of the two battles atSaratoga. This one happened just yesterday, on October 7, 1777. Since the battle at Freeman's Farm, our army's position has increased in power. Our man Gates had 11,000 men, now outnumbering Burgoyne two to one. Apparently Burgoyne was unsure of our positions, so he advanced his forces. Fifteen hundred men with ten artillery pieces advanced slowly towards our lines. The advance was stopped after awhile and the troops formed into a line, then waited. News of the unsupported advance soon reached Gates, who then ordered an attack on the British left. This attack was supported by good ol’ Daniel Morgan's regiment, which was able to reach the British’s rear. Benedict Arnold was also a major aspect in the attack. Arnold had remained with the army, even though he was relieved of his command by Gates. And when all hell broke loose Arnold jumped into battle like a warrior, and eventually took command of the attack. Under the stress of the repeated American attacks, the Tory’s forces became weaker, until they crumbled. General Simon Fraser was killed by sniper fire, which was an order by Benedict. As the British retreated back to Freeman’s Farm, Arnold lead a wild attack on those Redcoats. Arnold was forced off the field by a leg wound, and oddly enough, our attacks became weaker. Finally, the Burgoyne surrendered. This Battle proved to the French that we were not a losing team. I hope they help us so if we ever have to fight at Yorktown we could use their navy and corner the British so they Surrender and we win the war for good and in an ironic twist cripples our new country's economy. That would be cool.
QUESTIONS:
1. What did these two victories prove to not only the British and French, but the rest of the world?
2. Who are the major Colonial and British generals in these battles? What did they do to affect this battle?
3. What are the three major reasons for the two decisive Colonial victories at Saratoga, and how did this battle affect the outcome of the war?
TODAY'S DATE: OCTOBER 8, 1777
Yes, it is true. Read the headline once more if you feel the need to. For all of those out there who are actually literate, you should be well aware from the news lately that this war is not exactly going well for us. The British have been making fools out of us, winning most, if not all, of the battles so far. But something has just changed. Over the course of September and October,
two monumental battles have been fought at Saratoga, New York . "What is so monumental about said battles," you may ask. To put into terms all can understand: WE WON THEM. Those three words were among the few I had only dreamed of hearing together. We have finally won some battles. Not only did we win, but the Tories actually SURRENDERED TO US! These two battles at Saratoga, fought eighteen days apart, were our first major victories, and now the rest world will no longer see us as the "little people" that they can push around. We have just shown the whole world that we can hold our own in battle. Lets take a look and recap what took place at Saratoga, to give all you readers out there some idea of how it went down.
"BATTLE OF FREEMAN'S FARM"
This was the first of the two battles at Saratoga. It was fought back on September 19. As you can see, we actually had a plan for this battle. One advantage we had is that in this battle the British did not get an early start. They had very little knowledge our forces or their arrangement. Another reason for our victory was the gifted tactics of Colonel Daniel Morgan and Generals Benedict Arnold and Horatio Gates. If it wasn't for their skill in battle, we might not have won at Freeman's Farm. Though, I feel that we would have had a cleaner victory if it wasn't for the fact that Arnold and Gates hated each other. I was told that Gates had never led troops into battle before, and that Arnold predicted the British attack precisely and wanted to send the troops in, while Gates' plan was to wait for the British. When the British began their advance, we were already in place behind our fortifications. In my opinion, if the British had more time to think about their plan, they could have succeeded. Luckily for us, Arnold realized how vulnerable the British were when moving, and asked Gates repeatedly if he could send his troops in. Reportedly Gates gave in around noon, and allowed Arnold to send his wing in. This is the force that met General Burgoyne at Freeman's Farm, one mile north of Bemis Heights. The determination of our troops, not to mention the fact that Benedict Arnold was fighting in the front lines with his men, is definitely a contributing factor to our victory.
"BATTLE OF BEMIS HEIGHTS"
Bemis was the second of the two battles at Saratoga. This one happened just yesterday, on October 7, 1777. Since the battle at Freeman's Farm, our army's position has increased in power. Our man Gates had 11,000 men, now outnumbering Burgoyne two to one. Apparently Burgoyne was unsure of our positions, so he advanced his forces. Fifteen hundred men with ten artillery pieces advanced slowly towards our lines. The advance was stopped after awhile and the troops formed into a line, then waited. News of the unsupported advance soon reached Gates, who then ordered an attack on the British left. This attack was supported by good ol’ Daniel Morgan's regiment, which was able to reach the British’s rear. Benedict Arnold was also a major aspect in the attack. Arnold had remained with the army, even though he was relieved of his command by Gates. And when all hell broke loose Arnold jumped into battle like a warrior, and eventually took command of the attack. Under the stress of the repeated American attacks, the Tory’s forces became weaker, until they crumbled. General Simon Fraser was killed by sniper fire, which was an order by Benedict. As the British retreated back to Freeman’s Farm, Arnold lead a wild attack on those Redcoats. Arnold was forced off the field by a leg wound, and oddly enough, our attacks became weaker. Finally, the Burgoyne surrendered. This Battle proved to the French that we were not a losing team. I hope they help us so if we ever have to fight at Yorktown we could use their navy and corner the British so they Surrender and we win the war for good and in an ironic twist cripples our new country's economy. That would be cool.
QUESTIONS:
1. What did these two victories prove to not only the British and French, but the rest of the world?
2. Who are the major Colonial and British generals in these battles? What did they do to affect this battle?
3. What are the three major reasons for the two decisive Colonial victories at Saratoga, and how did this battle affect the outcome of the war?
THE END